Control device



April 14, 1931.

A. V. BODINE CONTROL DEVICE Filed Sept. '7, 1927 'INVENTOR. A. V. B odine.

ORNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALFRED V. BODINE, OF FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO DICTAPHONE COR- PORATION, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK CONTROL DEVICE hpplication filed September 7, 1927. Serial No. 217,981.

This invention relates to control devices, and more particularly to means for positioning a control device adapted to be used with ofiiceappliances or other machines.

5 Dictation machines, calculating machines and other machines of like nature are usually provid'edwith control mechanism adapted to be manipulated by the operator to start and stop the machine at the proper time. In many cases, these control devices are mounted directly upon the machine and are operated by hand. However, in some instances, notably with dictation machines, the control devices are operated by foot so that the operator need not remove his or her hands fromthe typewriting machine to control the dictation machine. These foot controlled devices have been placed on the floor in a position convenient to the operator so that by operating the same the dictation machine could be started and stopped.

It has been found, however, that when the control device is placed on the floor so as to be free to move about, it is sometimes kicked or accidentally moved out of its usual position and thus the operator must search for the same with his or her foot.

An object of the present invention is to avoid this difficulty and to so mount the foot controlled device that its position is constant, and so that it may be held against accidental displacement in a convenient predetermined position with relation to the desk.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of means for so holding the foot controlled device so that its location may be adjusted or changed by the operator to suit the operators convenience.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of this invention, that at present preferred-- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a foot con trolled device with the holding device of of this invention, showing the leg of a desk or table in section in the position which that part assumes with relation to the device.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a modified form of holding means made in accordance with this invention.

The foot controlled device shown in the accompanying drawings may be any suitable device intended for the purpose, but that shown operates pneumatically and may be in detail construction substantially the same as that shownin the patent to Joseph 1W1. Lucarelle No. 1,652,029 granted December 6, 1927.

It comprises a body 10 having an outwardly flaring lower edge portion or base 11, and a foot operated head or top 12 which when depressed forces a column of air through a hose 18 leading to the machine to be controlled. The pressure of the air in the hose 13 operates mechanism on the dictation machine by suitable means such as a bellows or piston and cylinder, and, when pressure on the head 12 is relieved, the head returns to its normal position drawing air back through the hose 13 to stop the machine or perform some other function.

This foot controlled device, as stated above, has heretofore been laid on the floor so that it was free to be moved very easily from place to place. This freedom of movement while extremely advantageous in some cases has been found to be inconvenient in others, for the foot controlled device 10 might be moved accidentally or unintentionally out of range of the operators foot requiring the operator to fish around on the floor to locate the device and properly reposition it for use.

The present invention avoids this difiiculty by positively holding the foot controlled device in a predetermined position with relation to the desk or table under which it is placed. Yet, it permits intentional movement of the foot controlled device to the location or position desired by the operator without the use of tools and with a very simple mechanical adjustment, so that the advantages of the previous arrangements are retained while the further advantage of having the foot control device held against accidental movement is obtained.

The means for obtaining these results in the form at present preferred is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and comprises a pair of arms 14 and 15 placed one above the other and adapted to be held to each other for sliding movement by ears 16 provided on the respective ends of each plate 14 and 15 and extending over the other plate. The plate 14, in the form shown, is provided with integral clips 17 rising from a circular portion 18 on which the foot controlled device 10 is mounted. These clips 17' are adapts ed to embrace the base portion 11 of the foot controlled device and retain the latter in predetermined position on the circular portion 18. The clips 17 may be so formed and shaped so as to be resilient to permit quick removal of the foot controlled device 10 therefrom, or they may be made sov stiff that they need to be hammered in place and sprung outwardly by a tool to apply and remove the foot controlled device 10 from the circular supporting portion 18. In the form shown, however, these clips 17 are made resilient and are provided at their upper ends with bent-over portions 17a by means of which the clips are cammed outwardly to permit the base 11 to pass the same when the foot controlled device 10 is forcibly applied thereto.

The other of the twotelescoping plates 14 and 15 namely'plate 15, is provided at. its

end opposite the bent-over ears 16 with a pivotal pin or stud 19 engaging a plate 20 which has upwardly extending parts 21 adapted to form a socket to. receivev the bottom portion ofleg 22 of the table'or desk under which the foot controlled device 10 is adapted to be placed. 7 V

The pivotal connection formed by the pins 19 between the plate 15 and the plate 20 permits bodily movement-of the foot. controlled device and the plates 14 and 15, holding the same about the axis of pins 19 to,

various positions with relation to the leg 22 of the desk or table, as ndicated in dotted lines i-n F 1. Hence, by swinging the foot controlled device 10, it can be moved farther under the deskor it maybe brought out near the front of the desk desired, To hold the foot controlled device in its desired adjusted position about the axis of the pivotal pin 19, the latter is provided with a.

tensioning disk 23' located between a nut 24 of the pin 19 and a washer 25 adapted to engage the plate. 15. and press it against the plate 20.

If it, is. desired to. merely permit rotary adjustment-of the foot controlled device with relation to. the leg. 22 of the desk, the plates 14 and lag nay have substituted for them a single plate of at length and shape which will cause the foot controlled device, to be located at the position most, frequently desired With relation to. theleg 22 of the desk or table. However, in order to permit the distancebetween the foot controlled device 10 and the leg22 of the desk to be varied, the present invention provides the two telescoping plates 14 and 15 which, as above stated, are held together by the bent-over ears 16 onv their ends. Hence, when the operator desires to change the distance of the foot controlled device from the leg 22, it is merely necessary to slide the plate 14- with respect to the plate ,15. In order that this adjustment may not be accidentally or inadvertently changed by kicking the device or otherwise, the present invention provides in the plate 14 a locking screw 26 preferably hav ing a winged-head 27 which when turned by hand causes the end of the screw to abut and clampagainst the plate, 15 and thus securely lock it in the desired position,

Thus, it will be seen from the foregoing, that in the use of the device of the present invention, when the operator desires to change the location of the foot controlleddevice on the floor, it is merely necessary to tween the foot controlled'device and the leg of the desk, and then'reset the screw, or to merely forcefully shift the foot controlled device about the axis of the pivotal pin 19' until it assumes the desired positicn.

The bracket plate 20,, which as above stated is connected to the plate 15 and frictionally held thereto by the spring disk 23, may be secured to the leg of the desk in any desired manner. i V

It has been found that by so arranging the bracket plate 20 that it is located between the bottom of the legQZ-of the desk and the floor, it isper-manently anchored or held in place with relation tov the desk so long as the desk is not lifted from the floor. Thus, with the construction disclosed, it is. not necessary to make any structural or mechanical connectijon between the bracket plate 2.0 and hfi leg 22 of the desk; but, to apply the bracketplate 20-. to the desk leg, it is merely necessary to raise the desk off the floor and allow thel'eg 22 to slip down in the socket formed by the side plates 21 of the bracket plate 20' until the leg itself rests on the bracket. late.

It should be clearly understood that within the scope of this invention the. bracket 20 maybe otherwise securedin a predetermined and definite position than that just above described. It may, for instance, be provided in the form of a flat plate 29a shown in Fig. 3, and in that case may have holes 214; for re-. oeiving screws by means of which it; is ffastened directly to the floor.

Variations and modifications may be. made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used withis claimed as new and for which it is desired to obtain Letters Patent, is

1. In a foot-operated control device, means connected to the control device and also engaging a leg of a table or desk for holding the control device in predetermined position with relation to the table or desk, said means comprising a plate having clips for connecting it to the control device, a plate slidably connected to the first-named plate, and a plate pivotally connected to the secondnamed plate and adapted to rest beneath and embrace a leg of said table or desk.

2. In a foot-operated control device, means connected to the control device and also engaging a leg of a table or desk for holding the control device in predetermined position with relation to the table or desk, said means comprising a plate adapted to rest upon the floor and having clips for connecting it to the control device, another plate slidably connected to the first plate, and a plate adapted to rest upon the floor, pivotally connected to the second-named plate and having a socket adapted to fit under and to receive the leg of the desk or table.

3. In a foot-operated control device, means connected to the control device and also engaging a leg of a table or desk for holding the control device in predetermined position with relation to the table or desk, said means com prising a plate having clips for connecting it to the control device, another plate slidably connected to the first plate, a plate pivotally connected to the second-named plate and having a socket to receive the leg of the desk or table, means for holding the first-named plate and the second-named plate against said sliding movement, and means normally tending to hold the second-named plate and the thirdnamed plate against relative pivotal movement.

4. In apparatus of the character described, an attachment for holding a foot control device in conveniently operative position relative to the leg of a table or desk comprising, in combination, means adapted to rest upon the floor and having means for connecting it to the control device, a socket adapted to rest upon the floor and to receive the leg of the table or desk, and means for holding said first means in slidable relation to said socket.

5. In apparatus of: the character described, an attachment for holding a foot control device in conveniently operative position relative to the leg of a table or desk comprising, in combination, means adapted to rest upon the floor and having means for connecting it to the control device, a socket adapted to rest upon the floor and to receive the leg of the table or desk, and means mounting said socket in adjustable pivotal relation to said first means.

6. In apparatus of the character described, an attachment for holding a foot control device in conveniently operative position relative to the leg of a table or lesk comprising, in combination, means adapted to rest upon the floor and having means for connecting it to the control device, a socket adapted to rest upon the floor and to receive the leg of the table or desk, means mounting said socket in adjustable pivotal relation to said first means, and means tending normally to hold said socket against pivotal movement.

7 In apparatus of the character described, an attachment for holding a foot control device in conveniently operative position relative to the leg of a table or desk comprising, in combination, means adapted to rest upon the floor and having means for connecting it to the control device, a socket adapted to rest upon the floor and to receive the leg of the table or desk, means for holding said first means in slidable relation to said socket, and means mounting said socket in adjustable pivotal relation to said first means.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, this 6th day of September, 1927.

ALFRED V. BODINE. 

